Nebraska Trip

[usersatch]

I am going to the Nebraska/Colorado football game in two weeks. I would like to catch some train action after the game, but don't want to spend the entire weekend in the car. I have been reading Grand Island and Freemont are good places to go and aren't too far away from Lincoln.  Any reviews of either place? Other places to go?  I would really like to go to the Platte Yard, but that is an awful long drive.

[lammermeier]

I would suggest Gibbon, which is about 25 miles west of Grand Island where the Marysville Sub joins the Council Bluffs Sub.  Lots of trains day and night.  The average is 6.3 trains per hour (majority coal).  There are plenty of good spots for viewing and the town is friendly.  No motels on old US 30.  You have to go south to I-80 which is a couple of miles south and not near any tracks.  Grand Island itself isn't bad near the crossing of the BNSF and UP, averaging 5.1 trains per hour.  Someone had recommended Hastings, south of Grand Island about 20 miles, but I was disappointed:  no convenient spot to view the old CB&Q and Marysville Sub crossing over, and the old CB&Q really doesn't have that many trains.

P. Lammermeier

Lima, Peru

[blhanel]

Why not stay right in Lincoln?  Go visit Mookie's spot, you might even run into her and the Driver there.

Check out this thread for more info...

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1/921959/ShowPost.aspx#921959

[usersatch]

Just as a follow-up, the trip went well.  The Huskers won big, the weather was awesome, and it was a good weekend for watching trains.  I spent time in Grand Island, Lincoln, Council Bluffs, and Fremont.  Even the wife had a good time.

Grand Island--the best place I have ever been to watch trains.  Caught 25 trains in about 2 hours, right at the UP/BNSF crossover.

Lincoln--Very busy, lots of trains pulling into the yard.  Didn't seem like many trains were just "passing through", they all seemed to stop.  Hung out around 3rd and J street.

Fremont--dead as a doornail.  Big yawner there.  Hung out at several places (including next to a small UP office building).

Council Bluffs--Pretty busy, but track layout was confusing (spent little time reconning the place) so I didnt get to see much.  Stopped by the UP museum.  Pretty nice, but I was hoping to seem some actual locos and rolling stock.

Next summer, I have a conference in Ft Collins, CO.  I think we will drive back and catch the Powder River basin action and stop by the Bailey Yard.

BTW--I love the UP diesel and steam engines on the hill next to I80 as you enter Omaha!